1929 - 1968
The relationship between gospel icon Mahalia Jackson and civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a profound alliance marked by mutual respect, deep friendship, and an unwavering commitment to the civil rights movement. Their connection was one of spiritual power and political drive that helped shape the landscape of the struggle for equality in the United States.
Mahalia Jackson's commitment to the civil rights movement began in 1956 when she was invited by Rev. Ralph David Abernathy to perform at an event in support of the Montgomery bus boycott. This boycott, which began on December 1, 1955, after Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat, was a turning point in the movement. King, as the newly appointed pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, was a co-organizer of the Montgomery Improvement Association (MIA), which coordinated the boycott of the city's bus lines. Jackson agreed to sing without pay, saying, “I don't charge the walkers.” She was the first person to give a concert to raise money for the civil rights movement. During her stay in Montgomery, she lived with the Abernathys, where they ate, prayed, and went to church together. This first visit developed into a close friendship with King and his colleagues, which was strengthened by mutual visits and joint actions.
Mahalia Jackson was a staunch Democrat and saw King's humanitarian efforts as a gift to humanity. She often sang at rallies, including boycott events, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) conferences, and the third anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Her influence was far-reaching, and she was even a member of the SCLC's board of directors. Her home in Chicago, particularly on Indiana Avenue, became the “unofficial headquarters” of the civil rights movement in Chicago. It was here that King, Abernathy, and their advisors met to prepare speeches and raise funds. Jackson often telephoned King to comfort him and give him strength. King drew “spiritual strength” from her singing and had “unquestioning faith” in Mahalia, whom he considered “practically his muse.” She used her influence to encourage others to join the movement and organized benefit events to raise funds for the movement. A notable example was an all-star benefit concert at the Arie Crown Theater at McCormick Place on May 27, which was expected to raise fifty thousand dollars. King, Abernathy, and Wyatt Tee Walker participated in this event, which attracted over five thousand people. Their demand for integrated audiences at their concerts was also a clear statement against racism.
Joint commitment
Prayer pilgrimage for freedom in 1957
Mahalia was the star performer at the Freedom Pilgrimage prayer rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on May 17, 1957. The audience was instructed not to applaud in order to respect the solemn nature of the event.Civil rights campaign in Chicago (1963-1966) Mahalia Jackson defied the established Baptist congregations in Chicago, who were afraid to invite King, and offered her support in bringing him to the city. She called Mayor Daley, who offered King a platform at McCormick Place Auditorium. Mahalia Jackson even went with King to the police station to negotiate the release of young people. In June 1964, she led a 5,000-strong choir at the Illinois Rally for Civil Rights at Soldier Field in Chicago, which was attended by 57,000 to 75,000 people.
Marsch on Washington 1963
This was one of the most historic and iconic moments of her career. Jackson sang “I've Been Buked and I've Been Scorned” before King's speech. When a low-flying plane threatened to drown out her voice, Mahalia overcame the noise with her powerful voice. The crowd demanded more, and she responded by singing “How I Got Over.” There are reports that when Mahalia sensed the energy waning, she whispered to King, “Tell them about the dream, Martin.” King then removed the prepared text and improvised the famous “I Have a Dream” part of his speech. King later wrote her an extraordinary letter of thanks, crediting her with the inspiration and success of the march. Martin Luther King's death in 1968.
Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
Mahalia was shocked and angry at the loss. At King's request, she sang Thomas Dorsey's “Take My Hand, Precious Lord” at his funeral on April 9, 1968. She later dedicated an album to his favorite religious songs. She joined the SCLC board to support Abernathy. After the assassinations of King and the Kennedys, Mahalia Jackson retired, deeply affected by the events.
More on the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King
Short biography
Martin Luther King Jr. was an American Baptist pastor and civil rights activist. In the 1950s and 1960s, he worked tirelessly for equal rights for all people, regardless of their skin color or religion. At that time, discriminatory segregation laws were still in force in the US, especially in the southern states. King experienced racism from an early age. He was a gifted student, skipped two grades, and began studying sociology at Morehouse College, one of the few colleges for Black students in the South, in 1944. He later studied theology and became a pastor.
A turning point in his life and in the civil rights movement was the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955, which was triggered by the arrest of Rosa Parks. King became one of the leading figures in the nonviolent resistance against racial discrimination.
In 1957, he became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization of black pastors who fought for civil rights. King traveled extensively, gave numerous speeches, and organized nonviolent protests and demonstrations.
A highlight of his activism was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in front of over 250,000 people. Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 for his nonviolent struggle against social injustice and racism.
King also campaigned against the Vietnam War and became increasingly involved in social issues. On April 4, 1968, he was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee, by James Earl Ray, a racist with multiple prior convictions. His assassination sparked widespread unrest. Since 1986, King's birthday has been celebrated as a national holiday in the United States.